Norman Yakeleya

Mr. Chair, the highways on the winter road, can the Minister indicate to me in terms of the signage safety of our winter road in terms of in our region here? It seems like we certainly could use some more signage on the winter road and also the proper installation of these signs. If you were to drive down on these roads, Mr. Chair, I think you would agree to some extent in that these signs need to be properly put in place, because I don’t think we’re meeting the standards of when you put these signs on these winter roads because it still needs to be improved. I would ask the Minister what type...

The 2010 runway ruling would be probably coming into effect 21 months from now. The communities of Fort Good Hope and Deline, along with their partner North-Wright Airways, have been asking this government here to see if they can extend the runways to the required length that would help them with their aircraft in the region. We do appreciate the additional runways that were extended in Fort Good Hope and Tulita up to, I think, 3,998 feet. I believe it’s there. We certainly appreciate that. However, because of the restrictions, they are saying that because of the restrictions in the 2010...

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would surely like to see the report in terms of the recommendations from the panel. Mr. Speaker, regarding the recommendations, I am hearing lots in the communities about implementing a one-rate zone down the Mackenzie Valley. There are some issues there.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of the implementation on a one-rate zone, it was felt very strongly in the Mackenzie Valley. I guess what I am asking is, if that is the panel’s conclusion, what type of work needs to be done in terms of having this type of decision be implemented within the life of this government. I am...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask questions, again, to the Minister of the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee in terms of the Minister has indicated that by June we should have some indication as to what the people in the Northwest Territories are saying in terms of the consultations that are going to take place. From June, can the Minister outline in terms of within the life of this Assembly, what the possibility is that can we expect people who want lower rates and want to look at the electricity regulations, what brought forward can we see as a government in terms of making...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then, would the lead Minister consider in terms of helping out with some of the communities in terms of their research because, again, they are going to be at a disadvantage in terms of putting together some real solutions if they’re just going to have a question and answer period in terms of the panel going through the communities. I ask if the Minister would look at his funds and see if there are some dollars available for the communities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask questions to the lead Minister on the Energy Coordinating Committee in terms of the review that’s going to be taking place in the Northwest Territories on rates and electricity review. In terms of these types of consultations that are happening in the Northwest Territories, can the Minister inform the House here, in terms of this type of discussion, will it be open and transparent with all the information and no set predetermination as to the information that’s going to be given to the people in those communities in terms of how they see the review of the...

In terms of the languages in our small schools, can the Minister advise me if there is any type of strategy within the next couple of months on how we start bridging the gap with our elders in our schools? I know there’s some discussion, but the elders are the ones who are the keepers of our language. Can the Minister let this House know what type of strategy he can bring forward within the next couple months on how to start implementing the elders into our schools?

Mr. Chairman, I also will be supporting this motion. I think this motion here speaks to sort of clearing the dust on these issues here. You have a program. You have the communities and municipal funding. You have expertise within the Department of Transportation and also they have studies done by the Municipal and Community Affairs office here. You think what we are asking here is through this motion here I am looking at it in terms of implementing a chipsealing program for the communities where there is expertise from the Department of Transportation which has the expertise, has the resources...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about the importance of language and learning the importance of the first language. I want to ask the Minister of Education, in terms of the language programs in the Northwest Territories, if there are plans underway to bridge the gap with language between the home and the school in terms of introducing a strong elders program into the schools where language can be taught with our teachers and the elders involved.

I thank the Minister for his comments in terms of specifically recognizing that there certainly needs to be work done on the signage on our winter roads. I would even go to the extent that if the sign structure division can give some of these dollars to our region in terms of having the contractors do the work in our regions. These contractors put on these winter roads know the roads very well. They’re very well experienced. They know the terrain of our land. They know how to put these signs in and, provided that they’re given the proper resources and equipment to put these signs up properly...